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He was a child, for fuck's sake!

I glared at them, unable to interfere, as the pair scowled atthe boy, disgust filling their expressions as if he carried a plague and was trying to infect them.

"Do you really fear him that much?" the human king asked, chuckling to himself as he looked between the Fae parents.

"You know our beliefs, King Crause." The Fae king eyed Jaiel as he spoke. "He invites demons into our world …"

King Crause just laughed, the sound loud and grating. "Such cowards, you Fae are! Scared of a child and some demons!"

The Fae king winced and looked away, but he said nothing …

"Well, King Torsten will welcome you with open arms, hollow prince," the human king said. "Or should I call you, Roain?"

The boy sobbed louder, and I struggled to hold back my own tears.

Jaiel had suffered this nightmare long ago … completely alone.

How had he survived?!

A hand pressed into my shoulder, and I looked up, finding myself alone with the cloaked man again. We were in the city again, standing before a heavy iron door.

I spun on him. "Where is he?" I demanded. "Where is the real Jaiel?"

I'd once suspected this man was Jaiel, but he was all wrong — too tall and wide and … cold.

The cloaked man didn't answer.

"What are we doing?" I tried again, frustration biting at me. "Why show me his memories?"

The cloaked figure said nothing for several long moments. "You will understand once you've seen more."

"What in the seven hells does that mean?" I snapped.

He just shook his head. "Just — trust me. I am on your side."

I clenched my hands at my sides. I ached to punch him, to force answers from that warped voice, but I couldn't risk him sending me back yet.

I needed more time. I needed to see more …

He pointed towards the door and dread pooled in my gut.

When I didn't open it, he spoke. "This one will also hurt. But it will help you understand Jaiel more, and help with what's to come."

I gritted my teeth and nodded, then stepped through and into a dim, cold room encased in metal.

Humans in lab coats held the child-Jaiel to a metal table as others tied him down.

"Please, no! Noooo!" he screamed. His hair was longer now, and he was maybe another year older —

Gods. How much of his life had been filled with this pain?!

The people in lab coats ignored his pleas, focused on checking the bindings before shuffling out of the room.

Jaiel panted and sobbed on the cold table, struggling and failing to get free.

What were they doing?

I didn't have to wait long. A loud click sounded, then thewhine of a motor. Jaiel began screaming again, voice cracking as the ceiling split and opened.